On the trail

Julia Gillard
said she was in touch with East Timorese authorities yesterday in her bid to establish a regional refugee processing centre. Ms Gillard hasn’t promised a centre will be built in East Timor but has committed to continuing talks with Dili. “The government of East Timor has confirmed as recently as today that they are open to continuing the dialogue with the government," she told the Nine Network yesterday. “I am confident that the East Timor government has said to us they’re up for the dialogue. Yep, we’ve got to conclude the dialogue. I’m not going to tell people untruths in this campaign. There’s no quick fix here." AAP

Former prime minister
Kevin Rudd
has thrown his weight behind Labor’s battle to hold the seat of Melbourne. Mr Rudd focused on homelessness as he campaigned in the seat being vacated by Finance Minister
Lindsay Tanner
. The Greens’
Adam Bandt
is the favourite to seize the seat. His party polled 22.8 per cent in 2007 and is expected to gain Liberal preferences before Labor’s Cath Bowtell. AAP

Labor has promised more of the same on trade if it is re-elected. Trade Minister
Stephen Smith
has released Labor’s policy paper, which says the party will keep striving for an “ambitious" outcome for Australia in the World Trade Organisation’s Doha round.AAP

Former Victorian premier
Jeff Kennett
has criticised the small-target campaigning by Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard. “In one sense, it’s been a very disappointing election, given the offerings," Mr Kennett said. But he would support the Coalition because he thought it was better at managing taxpayers’ dollars. AAP